Analysis of an Analog Property of a Signal

ABSTRACT

A third party provides an analysis of an analog signal property derived from an electronic device. A data set describing an analog signal property is obtained. The data set is derived from at least one measurement on the signal. A permission set based on data received from a supplier entity is maintained. A consumer entity having permissions are permitted access to information computed from the data set. A consumer input from the consumer entity is received. The consumer input represents a request for the analysis result. A determination is made based on permissions that the consumer entity is permitted access to the computed information. An analysis result from the data set is computed after receiving the consumer input. The analysis result is provided to the consumer entity. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent document or thepatent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Officepatent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rightswhatsoever. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

BACKGROUND

In an effort to select a manufacturer for an electrical device, apotential customer may request supporting data related to an analogperformance of the electrical device from each of several competingmanufacturers of the electrical device. However, a direct comparison ofthe supporting data provided by each of the competing manufacturers maybe misleading due to possible differences between manufacturers indeveloping the supporting data, such as: differences in equipment orsettings of the equipment used to measure the electronic device;differences in mathematical algorithms used to derive the supportingdata from measurement results; differences in the measurementenvironment (e.g. temperature, sources of noise); differences inconfiguring the electronic device for operation (e.g. power supplyvoltages, output frequency or data rate, and/or other configurableoptions or features), and a natural desire of the manufacturer to wantthe supporting data to appear favorable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain illustrative embodiments illustrating organization and method ofoperation, together with objects and advantages may be best understoodby reference to the detailed description that follows taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an example electronic device in accordance with certainembodiments consistent with the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts various example entities in accordance with certainembodiments consistent with the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts an example method in accordance with certain embodimentsconsistent with the present invention.

FIG. 4 depicts an example permission set in accordance with certainembodiments consistent with the present invention.

FIG. 5 depicts an example graphical user interface in accordance withcertain embodiments consistent with the present invention.

FIG. 6 depicts an alternate example graphical user interface inaccordance with certain embodiments consistent with the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is an example flow chart of a method based on a server inaccordance with certain embodiments consistent with the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is an example flow chart depicting a process in accordance withcertain embodiments consistent with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an example apparatus in accordance with certain embodimentsconsistent with the present invention.

FIG. 10 depicts an example of the contents of a programming storagedevice in accordance with certain embodiments consistent with thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is an example flow chart of a method based on a receiving theelectronic device in accordance with certain embodiments consistent withthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the presentdisclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of theprinciples and not intended to limit the invention to the specificembodiments shown and described. In the description below, likereference numerals are used to describe the same, similar orcorresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. Nothing inthis document is intended to be construed as an admission of prior artunless explicitly designated as such using the words “prior art”.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certainembodiments”, “an embodiment”, “an example”, “an implementation” orsimilar terms means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment, example orimplementation is included in at least one embodiment, example orimplementation of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of suchphrases or in various places throughout this specification are notnecessarily all referring to the same embodiment, example orimplementation. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments, examples or implementations without limitation.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more thanone. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or morethan two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least asecond or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein,are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, asused herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly,and not necessarily mechanically. The term “program” or “computerprogram” or similar terms, as used herein, is defined as a sequence ofinstructions designed for execution on a computer system. A “program”,or “computer program”, may include a subroutine, a function, aprocedure, an object method, an object implementation, in an executableapplication, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, ashared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence ofinstructions designed for execution on a computer system. The term“processor”, “controller”, “CPU”, “computer” and the like as used hereinencompasses both hard programmed, special purpose, general purpose andprogrammable devices and may encompass a plurality of such devices or asingle device in either a distributed or centralized configurationwithout limitation.

The use of terminology herein for first, second, and third to describean element is to be merely interpreted as a label, and does not implytiming or other specific attributes. The term “or” as used herein is tobe interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination.Therefore, “A, B or C” means “any of the following: A; B; C; A and B; Aand C; B and C; A, B and C”. An exception to this definition will occuronly when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are insome way inherently mutually exclusive.

This application relates generally to methods and apparatuses foranalyzing a signal, and specifically to methods and apparatuses foranalyzing an analog property of a signal derived from an electronicdevice.

The term “signal” is used herein to describe a continuous-time signal,such as a real-world signal. In a mathematical abstraction, the domainof a continuous-time signal is the set of real numbers (or some intervalthereof). The terminology “analog property of a signal” as used hereintherefore includes any attribute, quality, or characteristic of thesignal that can express any value along a continuous scale (or someinterval thereof). The signal may include small fluctuations that aremeaningful.

The term “electronic device” is used herein to describe a device thatutilizes the properties of electrons for accomplishing in whole or inpart its purpose. An electronic device may additionally utilize light,such as in optoelectronic (optical transceiver modules) andelectro-optic (e.g. image sensors) devices; sound, such as insurface-acoustic wave (SAW)-based clock oscillator devices; ormechanical motion, such as in micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS)-basedclock oscillator devices. Electronic devices well suited for thisapplication include without limitation integrated circuits (ICs),semiconductor chips, packaged semiconductor chips, electronic componentsand modules, transceivers, transponders, serializers and deserializers(e.g. SERDES), clock timing sources, signal (e.g. pulse, pattern, data)sources, electronic systems and components of such systems, printedcircuit boards (PCBs), and PCB assemblies.

An analog property of a signal can be difficult to measure and analyze,especially as the amplitude of noise in the signal approaches that ofthe signal. Noise may be introduced from the environment duringmeasurement (e.g. ground loops, crosstalk, electrical and magneticfields, etc.). Also, the measurement equipment itself can introduceartifacts into the measured data. Furthermore, differences in the setupof the measurement equipment and the equipment's connection to a contactpoint to access the signal can translate into variations observed inmeasurement results obtained between different measurement facilities,even if the same electronic device is tested. Some analog properties ofa signal may include phase noise, jitter, and spectral density.

A potential customer intending to analyze and compare the analogperformance of a product sold by several competing manufacturers mayhave the following options:

A. Request each manufacturer to provide the analog performance datarelated to their product for the potential customer to analyze.

B. Request each manufacturer to provide their product for the potentialcustomer to measure and analyze its analog performance.

C. Request a report from the manufacturer showing the analog performancedata obtained by an independent test laboratory.

Option A is the most common option. Here, the manufacturer may createone report and distribute it to multiple potential customers, but thereare several drawbacks. For example, comparing analog performance databetween different manufacturers is difficult due to variations inequipment used to collect the data, variations in equipment settingsused to collect the data (for example, if the same equipment is used),variations in environmental effects on the measurement data, andcompeting interests between the potential customer and the manufacturer(e.g. the potential customer has no knowledge whether the manufacturerhas tested a “golden” device that exhibits above average analogperformance). Also, each potential customer may have a slightlydifferent or non-standard application requiring knowledge of some aspectrelated to an analog performance of the electronic device that thesingle report provided by the manufacturer does not address.

Option B results in better comparisons between different manufacturers'products because variations due to the environment, and equipmentselection and setup are minimized. One tradeoff in option B is that themanufacturer must supply and train numerous potential customers to useand test their electronic device, which increases material cost andcustomer support for the manufacturer. The potential customer must alsoinvest time and money to produce results, including maintaining and/orrenting any necessary equipment required for measuring the electronicdevice. Also, any result derived by the potential customer may besuspected by the manufacturer as inaccurate if the manufacturer did notoversee the process leading to the result.

Option C offers the combined advantages of options A and B, pluseliminates the above mentioned competing interest concerns between thepotential customer and the manufacturer (assuming the independent testlaboratory provides unbiased and accurate results). However, to recoverthe investment needed to create a test, the independent test lab mayfocus testing around popular industry standards to attract a wideaudience for the test. Option C is thus typically the least availableoption, especially for applications that are not standardized byindustry organizations or are related to uncommon industry standards.Another disadvantage is that the report derived from the independenttest laboratory may be static in nature, and therefore not allow thepotential customer to interact with, analyze, and/or post-process theoriginal data derived from the electronic device to gain insight intothe nature of the analog property, which inhibits the potentialcustomer's ability to assess the suitability of the electronic devicefor the intended application. To keep test costs low, the amount ofinformation provided by the independent test lab may be limited.

It is therefore observed that a need exists to provide an unbiasedanalysis of an analog property in a signal for non-standard or uncommonapplications requiring great depth of information.

In general, a clock timing signal oscillates between a high-level stateand low-level state, and the time between recurring edges of the clocktiming signal is often periodic or pseudo-periodic. The clock timingsignal has edges with a rising slope direction, and edges with a fallingslope direction, and these edges may be used to control the timing ofactions. For many applications, the clock timing signal is ideally aperiodic wave such as a sine wave or a square wave, but the clock timingsignal in practice may contain characteristics that make the waveformimperfect and therefore are referred to herein as “pseudo-periodic”,with such imperfections including variations in time of amplitude, pulsewidth, period, frequency, rise time, or fall time, for example.Furthermore, some imperfections are sometimes intentionally introducedonto the clock timing signal. For example, spread-spectrum technologyintroduces a controlled amount of frequency modulation onto the clocktiming signal to minimize electro-magnetic interference (EMI) emissions.The clock timing signal is normally used to define a time reference forthe movement of data within a system. A clock timing signal normallycarries information in its edges.

The clock timing signal is generally derived from a clock timing source.The following are non-limiting examples of clock timing sources that mayoutput at least one clock timing signal: crystal oscillator (XO),voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), voltage-controlled crystaloscillator (VCXO), voltage-controlled surface-acoustic wave (SAW)oscillator (VCSO), oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO),temperature-controlled crystal oscillator (TCXO), programmable clockoscillator, phase locked loop (PLL)-based clock synthesizer,fractional-N clock synthesizer, SAW oscillator, micro-electro-mechanicalsystems (MEMS) oscillator, temperature-compensated MEMS oscillator(TCMO), clock-recovery unit (CRU), clock-generation integrated circuit(IC), distribution-buffer IC, jitter-attenuation IC,frequency-translation IC, clock-multiplier IC, spread-spectrum clock IC,clock IC, clock module, clock circuit, and a semiconductor chip thatoutputs the clock timing signal.

A “technical standard” is defined as used herein as a documented set ofrequirements defining in whole or in part a technology. The scope of thediscussion herein includes technical standards associated withserial-data transmission applications as well as other applications. Thedocumented set of requirements may establish one or more technicalcriteria, specifications, methods, processes, and/or practices. Morespecifically, the technical standard includes one or more standardspecifications, where each standard specification may comprise anexplicit set of requirements for an item, component, system, and/orservice. For example, a technical standard associated with a serial-datatransmission application may incorporate one or more specifications,criteria, processes, practices, methods, details, and/or requirementsrelating to jitter, phase noise, or spectral density.

The technical standard may be developed by a standard body organization,or one or more public and/or private companies and/or organizations. Thetechnical standard may be administered, written, maintained, or providedby at least one or more of the following organizations withoutlimitation: Society of Motion Picture Television Engineers (SMPTE),Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), PeripheralComponent Interconnect Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG), TelcordiaTechnologies Inc., American National Standards Institute (ANSI),International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Optical InternetworkingForum (OIF), Serial Advanced Technology Attachment InternationalOrganization (SATA-IO), International Committee for InformationTechnology Standards (INCITS), Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI)Cooperation, Infiniband Trade Organization, RapidIO Trade Association,Small Form Factor (SFF) Committee, Ethernet Alliance, Video ElectronicsStandards Association (VESA), High-Definition Multimedia Interface(HDMI) Licensing LLC, HyperTransport Consortium, InfiniBand TradeAssociation, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), andUniversal Serial Bus (USB) Implementer's Forum (USB-IF). This list isnot intended to be all inclusive, but is provided by way of example.Additionally, technical standards may be publically available inpublished form or unpublished, confidential or semi-confidential, but inany case the standards are accessible to a target population of workers(engineers, scientists, technicians, etc.) with need to measure oradhere to such technical standard.

For example, some technical standards are listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 SMPTE 259M SMPTE 344M SMPTE 292M SMPTE 372M SMPTE 424M IEEE802.3ae IEEE 802.3an IEEE 802.3av IEEE 802.3ba Telcordia GR-253-COREANSI T1.105 ITU-Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) G.707OIF-CEI-02.0 SATA Revision 1.x SATA Revision 2.x SATA Revision 3.x CPRIV4.0 Fibre Channel FC-PI-4 Fibre Channel FC-PI Infiniband ArchitectureSpecification Volume 1 Infiniband Architecture Specification Volume 2Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface Serial RapidIO (SRIO)Rev. 1.3 SRIO Rev. 2.0 SFF INF-8077i SFF-8431.

Certain technical standards associated with serial-data transmissionapplications may contain one or more standard specifications including aspecification for jitter in a specified serial-data signal. Thespecification for jitter in the specified serial-data signal maydesignate a maximum permissible amount of jitter.

Some types of jitter include: time-interval error (TIE) jitter, periodjitter, cycle-to-cycle jitter, half-period jitter, and N-cycle jitter.TIE jitter may be defined as the short-term variation of the significantinstants of a digital signal from their ideal positions in time; periodjitter may be defined as the variation of a period in a signal from itsmean period; cycle-to-cycle jitter may be defined as the variation inperiod between two adjacent cycles in a signal; half-period jitter maybe defined as the variation of any half-period in a signal from its meanhalf-period; and N-cycle jitter may be defined as the variation betweentwo edges in a signal that are N-cycles apart. Other types of jitteralso exist. Note that since no universal standard exists for jitterterminology, the above terminology and/or definitions for types ofjitter may differ from that found in the literature and/or technicalstandard, for example, depending on the source of the literature and/ortechnical standard.

Additionally, each type of jitter may be decomposed into one or morestatistical components of jitter. Example statistical components ofjitter include:

-   -   a random component of jitter, also referred to as random jitter        (RJ);    -   a deterministic component of jitter, also referred to as        deterministic jitter (DJ);    -   a periodic component of jitter, also referred to as periodic        jitter (PJ);    -   a data-dependent component of jitter, also referred to as        data-dependent jitter (DDJ) or inter-symbol interference (ISI)        jitter;        The RJ may be created by random noise and characterized by a        Gaussian distribution. The DJ may be created by system        mechanisms (such as crosstalk, reflections, loss) and/or        bandwidth limitations (such as ISI) and characterized by a        distribution that is bounded in time. The DJ may include PJ, and        DDJ. The PJ may be described as jitter that repeats in a        cyclical fashion, and when associated with a serial-data signal,        may be uncorrelated to the serial-data bit pattern. The DDJ may        describe the time differences required for a signal to arrive at        a receiver threshold when starting from different places in bit        sequences. As mentioned above, since jitter terminology is not        universally standardized, the above terminology and/or        definitions for the statistical components of jitter may differ        from that found in the literature and/or technical standard, for        example, depending on the source of the literature and/or        technical standard. Other statistical components of jitter also        exist.

Although it may be desirable to measure each statistical component ofjitter separately, this is not generally possible because allstatistical components of jitter are mixed together and appear as totaljitter. Total jitter (TJ) may therefore be considered as a statisticalcomposition of jitter that includes all statistical components ofjitter. Thus, TJ includes both RJ and DJ. Various mathematicalalgorithms exist to decompose, or separate, TJ into one or morestatistical components of jitter in the serial-data signal. While eachtype of jitter may be decomposed into one or more statistical componentsof jitter, this decomposition process is generally applied to TIE jitterin serial-data transmission applications.

Certain example mechanisms by which the embodiments herein benefitproviding an unbiased analysis of an analog property of a signal aredescribed below with reference to FIGS. 1 through 11.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic device 100 (as described above) isshown to have an output 110 that provides a signal 120 (as describedabove). The signal 120, which is analog in nature, may be optical orelectrical, single-ended or differential. The signal may be, forexample, a clock timing signal (e.g. sine wave or square wave); adigital data signal; a pulse-amplitude modulated signal; or a modulatedsine wave signal representing a digital bit stream. The output 110 mayexist in the form of a standard or custom electrical or opticalconnector (e.g. BNC, SMA, triax, RJ45, Infiiniband, CX4, fiber-optic LCor SC connector), or connect to a physical probe. The output may be froman electronic device such as an integrated circuit (IC); a semiconductorchip; a packaged semiconductor chip; a printed circuit board (PCB); aPCB assembly; an electrical device, component or module; an opticaltransceiver; an optical transponder; a clock timing source (as discussedabove); a test instrument; a serializer or deserializer (e.g. SERDES); asignal (e.g. pulse, pattern, data) source; or an electronic system orsub-system. The signal 120 may be single-ended or differential, opticalor electrical, and may be accessed by attaching a physical probe from atest instrument to a contact point located at the output 110.

Referring to FIG. 2, three key entities are discussed herein: a consumerentity 210, a supplier entity 220, and a third party 200. All three ofthese entities are defined to be separate from and have independentdecision-making authority relative to each other. An entity may describean individual, a group of individuals, or an organization (e.g.corporation, company). The third party 200 obtains a data set 240. Thedata set 240 may be maintained, for example, in a secure database assuggested in FIG. 2. The data set 240 is derived from at least onemeasurement on a signal 120 derived from an output 110 of an electronicdevice 100, where the data set 240 describes an analog property of thesignal 120. The data set 240 may be derived from one or moremeasurements of the signal 120 using, for example, a real-time samplingoscilloscope (also called a digital storage oscilloscope), anequivalent-time sampling oscilloscope, a spectrum analyzer, or aphase-noise analyzer. The data set 240 may be derived from theelectronic device 100, for example, through the use of a samplingcircuit (such as used by a real-time sampling oscilloscope) thatconverts the signal 120 into a plurality of samples obtained at aplurality of sample times, where each sample represents an amplitude ofthe signal 120 at a corresponding sample time. The data set 240 mayalternatively be, for example, a series of jitter values derived fromthe plurality of samples. Alternatively, the data set 240 may includespectral density data, phase noise data, or other data that describes ananalog property of the signal 120.

The third party 200 maintains a permission set 260. The permission set260 is based on data received from a supplier entity 220. The permissionset 260 is used by the third party 200 (and indirectly by the supplierentity 220) to control access to information computed from the data set240. Only consumer entities having permission as determined by thepermission set 260 are permitted access to information computed from thedata set 240. Information computed from the data set 240 may include thedata set 240. The supplier entity 220 is thereby able to control accessby one or more consumer entities to information computed from the dataset 240. The permission set 260 may also be maintained in a securedatabase.

The third party 200 also maintains computer code 280 that computes ananalysis result from the data set 240. The computer code 280 may, forexample, contain a plurality of analysis subroutines, where eachanalysis subroutine computes a unique analysis result from the data set240. Each analysis routine may enable the consumer entity 210 tointeract with the data set 240. Example analysis routines includeplotting the data set 240, and performing mathematical operations on thedata set 240 in order to derive desirable information. Non-limitingexample analysis results may include a plot, chart, or graph derivedfrom the data set 240; a new set of data based on the data set 240;statistical measures (e.g. maximum, minimum, standard deviation,variance) computed from the data set 240; one or more digital states(e.g. an analysis of whether a threshold has been exceeded or notexpressed as pass or fail, or one of a plurality of discrete states suchas 0 or 1, or one of 256 levels).

A detailed description of certain embodiments based on the itemsdescribed above is described in relation to FIGS. 3 through 6 consideredsimultaneously as follows. Referring to the example depicted in FIG. 3,a third party 200 has access to a plurality of data sets (identified asDS1, DS2, DS3, DS4, and DS5), and a plurality of permission sets (PS1,PS2, PS3, and PS4). Each data set is associated with a permission set.For example, DS1 is associated with PS1; DS2 with PS2; DS3 and DS5 withPS3; and DS4 with PS4. Each permission set is associated with supplierentity. For example, PS1 is associated with organization 1 (ORG1); PS2and PS4 with organization 2 (ORG2); and PS3 and PS5 with organization 3(ORG3). While the permission set is maintained by the third party 200,the permission set is based on data received from the supplier entity.In this way, the supplier entity indirectly controls access by one ormore consumer entities to information computed from the data set.

Continuing the FIG. 3 example in FIG. 4, three supplier entities (ORG1,ORG2, ORG3) influence at least one of four permission sets (260,461-463) for four consumer entities (selected from 210, 412, 260, 414,and 415; note that FIG. 4 assumes a supplier entity will always allowitself permission to access a data set for which it controls access, andthat a supplier entity is not considered a consumer entity with regardsto a data set for which it controls access). Note that a supplier entityin a different set of circumstances may become a consumer entity, andvice versa. For example, considering DS1, ORG1 is a supplier entity andORG2 is a consumer entity. However, considering DS2, ORG2 is a supplierentity and ORG1 is a consumer entity. For a given data set, the supplierentity is the entity that influences the permission set associated withthe given data set, and all other entities other than the third partyare considered to be consumer entities. For example, permission set 260(PS3) is based on data received from the supplier entity 220 (ORG3),where permission set 260 (PS3) permits access by one or more consumerentities to information computed from the data set 240 (DS3).

In the example depicted in FIG. 4, consumer entities 210 (ORG1) and 415(ORG5) are permitted access and consumer entities 412 (ORG2) and 414(ORG4) are denied access to data set 240 (DS3) by permission set 260(PS3); supplier entity 220 (ORG3) is assumed to have permission to dataset 240 (DS3) as depicted by 420 in FIG. 4. Note that FIG. 4additionally illustrates that one permission set (e.g. 260 (PS3)) cancontrol access to more than one data set (e.g. DS5, and 240 (DS3)), andthat one supplier entity (e.g. ORG2) can be associated with more thanone permission set (e.g. 462 (PS2), and 463 (PS4)).

An additional example is depicted in FIG. 3, where the supplier entity220 (ORG3) provides supplier input 380 to the third party 200. In thisexample, the third party 200 receives one or more supplier inputs 390representing a request to either create or modify a permission set 260(PS4) to either permit or deny one or more consumer entities fromaccessing information computed from the data set 395 (DS5).

Referring again to FIG. 3 and continuing the above example, the thirdparty 200 maintains the permission set 260, where the permission set 260is based on data received from the supplier entity 220, and where one ormore consumer entities having permission as determined by the permissionset 260 are permitted access to information computed from the data set240. The third party 200 also maintains computer code 280 (as describedabove) that computes an analysis result 300 (as described above) fromthe data set 240.

The third party 200 receives at least one consumer input 330 from aconsumer entity 210, where the at least one consumer input 330represents a request to obtain the analysis result 300. For example, theat least one consumer input 330 as depicted in FIG. 3 comprises a dataset indicator representing the data set 240 (DS3), and an analysisresult indicator.

Although not shown, the at least one consumer input 330 may also includea proof of identity that allows the third party 200 to verify theidentity of the consumer entity 210. Proof of identity may comprise, forexample, a username and password, and/or requiring a response to anemail sent to the supplier entity's email address.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 through 3 in the above example, the thirdparty 200 obtains 305 the data set 240, where the data set 240 isderived from at least one measurement on a signal 120 derived from anoutput 110 of an electronic device 100, and where the data set 240describes an analog property of the signal 120. The third party 200executes 310 the computer code 280 on at least one computer processor tocompute the analysis result 300 from the data set 240 after receivingthe at least one consumer input 330. The third party 200 determines 340from the permission set 260 whether the consumer entity 210 is permittedaccess to information computed from the data set 240. Informationcomputed from the data set 240 may include the data set 240, and/or mayinclude any other information derived from the data set 240, includingthe analysis result 300. If the consumer entity 240 is permitted accessto the information computed from the data set 240, then the third party200 provides 350 the analysis result 300 computed from the data set 240to the consumer entity 210. The consumer entity 210 may obtain 370 theanalysis result 300. Otherwise, if the consumer entity 210 is deniedaccess 351 to the information computed from the data set 240, then thethird party 200 does not provide the analysis result 300 to the consumerentity 210. In the example described by FIGS. 3 and 4, the permissionset 260 (PS3) permits 421 the consumer entity 210 (ORG1) access 1 to theanalysis result 300 computed from the data set 240 (DS3).

There are many ways in which the at least one consumer input may beprovided by the consumer entity 210 to the third party 200. One such wayis illustrated in FIG. 5 using an example graphical user interface 500(GUI) that may be provided by the third party 200 to the consumer entity210. Here, the GUI 500 facilitates the consumer entity 210 in making aselection of one or more parameters representing a request to obtain theanalysis result 300. In the example depicted in FIG. 5, one or moreelectronic devices may be selected by the consumer entity 210 to requesta phase noise plot containing phase noise curves associated with theselected electronic devices. The GUI 500 may run, for example, on acomputer operated by the consumer entity 210, or on a server accessed bythe consumer entity 210 over a computer network. The GUI 500 ismanipulated by the consumer entity 210, for example, using a computermouse. The consumer entity 210 may position a computer mouse icon orcursor or highlight or pointer 510 over a displayed radio button andclick a button on a computer mouse or keyboard or other input device toeither select or de-select a radio button corresponding to an electronicdevice 100 to signify the selection 520 or de-selection 530,respectively, of an electronic device, for one or more electronicdevices. The example shown in FIG. 5 illustrates the selection of thefollowing two electrical devices: product number TCS510 manufactured byTC Semi, and product number PLS17800 manufactured by Pulseir. These twoselections selected by the consumer entity 210 represent twocorresponding data sets to the third party 200.

A submission button 540 may be selected by the consumer entity 210operating the computer mouse to submit the selection of one or moreelectrical devices for processing. Submitting 540 these selections fromthe GUI 500 represents a request to obtain an analysis result comprisinga phase noise plot containing a phase noise curve associated with TCS510and another phase noise curve associated with PLS17800. By plotting twophase noise curves in one graph, for example, the consumer entity 210can better compare the phase noise performance of these two electronicdevices across a range of offset frequencies.

There are many ways that the third party 200 may provide an analysisresult 300 to the consumer entity 210. One way is illustrated in FIG. 6using another GUI. The GUI 600 provided by the third party 200 anddepicted in FIG. 6 can be used by the consumer entity 210 to both selectand obtain the analysis result 300. The GUI 600 provides a variety ofparameters that may be selected by the consumer entity 210 to representone or more data sets to the third party 200. For example, the followingparameters may be selected from the GUI 600: an electronic device 100manufacturer 605, an electronic device 100 product number 610, one ofseveral test conditions 620 (e.g. temperature, voltage) related to themeasurement environment, and a location that identifies a particulartype of software filter (e.g. OSC, TX, RX) that may be applied foranalysis. The type of analysis result may also be selected from the GUI600 by the consumer entity 210. For example, but without limitation, theGUI 600 presents several types of analysis results 630 including a phasenoise plot, a deterministic jitter (DJ) spectrum plot, a DJ time-seriesplot, a histogram plot, a bathtub curve plot, a compliance test result,and a report of key statistics related to the selected data sets. Thetype of analysis result selected in FIG. 6 is the phase noise plot,which appears in the main panel as 670.

After selecting the various parameters of interest, the consumer entity210 may select an “Enter” button 650 to submit the selected parametersfor processing by the third party 200. The third party 200 then receivesthe at least one consumer input 330 from the consumer entity 210, wherethe at least one consumer input 330 represents a request to obtain theanalysis result 300. The example depicted in FIG. 6 illustrates aconsumer entity's selection for requesting an analysis result 300 thatis a phase noise plot 670 of a data set 240 derived from an electronicdevice 100 having a product number of TCS890 and manufactured by TCSemi. A data set 240 is obtained by the third party 200, where the dataset 240 comprises phase noise data derived from a signal 120 derivedfrom an output 110 of the electronic device TCS890, where TCS890 wasmeasured in a temperature environment of 25 C and with an appliedvoltage of 2.97V. Additionally, FIG. 6 identifies a transmitter jitterfilter (Location: TX) is applied to the data set and the resulting phasenoise plot 670 is provided by the third party 200 to the consumer entity210 via the GUI 600.

A “Reset” button 660 is depicted in FIG. 6 for the consumer entity 210to clear the selected parameters in the GUI 600. Additional controls maybe available in the GUI 600 to access one or more analysis results. Forexample, arrows buttons 640 are depicted in the GUI 600 that enable theconsumer entity 210 to cycle the main GUI 600 panel between the variousanalysis results available for the selected data set (e.g. Phase Noise,DJ Spectrum, DJ Signal, Histograms, Bathtub, Compliance, Report, etc.).Finally, additional information derived from the data set 240 andrelevant to the requested analysis result may also be provided by thethird party 200. For example, FIG. 6 shows that integrating the phasenoise plot 670 over an offset frequency range of 12 KHz to 20 MHzresults in 1.91 ps RMS of jitter 680.

It is again noted that the consumer entity 210, the supplier entity 220,and the third party 200 are all defined herein to be separate from andhave independent decision-making authority relative to each other. Theoverriding intent, however, of a third party 200 is to provide aconsumer entity 210 with an unbiased analysis of an analog property of asignal 120. The third party 200 should therefore not purposely corruptthe analysis result 300 provided to the consumer entity 210, so that theanaylsis result can be considered uncorrupted and reliable. The consumerentity 210 and the supplier entity 220 should trust that the third partydoes not have a prejudice in favor of or against either the consumerentity 210 or the supplier entity 220 in a way that is considered to beunfair. One way to establish this relationship is that the third party200, the consumer entity 210, and the supplier entity 220 are allindependent entities (aside from considerations related to shareholdersand board of directors) such that neither the consumer entity 210 northe supplier entity 220 are able to skew (that is, make biased ordistorted in a way that is regarded as inaccurate, unfair, ormisleading) the analysis result 300 between the time of obtaining thedata set 240 and providing the analysis result 300 to the consumerentity 210. The third party 200 may implement safeguards to preventpotential corruption of data and/or procedures, such as restrictingaccess to the computer code 280, the data set 240, 395, and the analysisresult 300 to ensure that the consumer entity 210 and the supplierentity 220 are unable to skew the analysis result 300 and obtain anunfair advantage. The third party 200 may comprise multiple entities(although the third party 200 may not comprise the supplier entity 220nor the consumer entity 210) that carry out the work described hereinfor the third party 200 (for example, if the third party 200 employedsub-contractors, or if the third party 200 included the work ofsubsidiaries owned in part or in whole by the third party 200).

A flow chart depicting an example of certain illustrative embodimentsconsistent with the present invention is provided in FIG. 7, anddiscussed in relation to FIGS. 1 through 6 as follows. A third party 200obtains 700 a data set 240, where the data set 240 is derived from atleast one measurement on a signal 120 derived from an output 110 of anelectronic device 100, and where the data set 240 describes an analogproperty of the signal 120. The third party 200 maintains 705 computercode 280 that computes an analysis result 300 from the data set 240. Thethird party maintains 735 a permission set 260.

The third party 200 connects 710 a server to a first client computerover a computer network 720, where the first client computer is operatedby a supplier entity 220. The supplier entity 220 connects 715 the firstclient computer to the server. The third party 200 supplies 725 asupplier user interface over the computer network 720 to the supplierentity 220. The supplier entity 220 receives 730 the supplier userinterface. The supplier user interface may include, for example, one ormore web pages provided by the server to the first client computer andinterpreted using a web browser on the first client computer.Alternatively, the supplier user interface may run on the server and beaccessed by the first client computer through a remote connection to theserver, as facilitated by technologies such as NX (for X window systems)or virtual network computing (VNC).

The supplier user interface may be, for example, a GUI that allows thesupplier entity 220 to select one or more consumer entities, and foreach selected consumer entity, provide input as to whether or not theconsumer entity 210 is allowed or denied access to information computedfrom the data set 240. The supplier user interface may thus be used bythe supplier entity 220 to send 740 one or more supplier inputs to thethird party 200. The supplier user interface receives 745 in response toinput from the supplier entity 220 one or more supplier inputsrepresenting a request to either create or modify the permission set 260to either permit or deny one or more consumer entities from accessinginformation computed from the data set 240. The third party 200 performs747 the request to either create or modify the permission set 260. Aspart of this process, the third party 200 may request and/or receiveproof of identity (as described above) from the supplier entity 220 tovalidate the identity of the supplier entity 220 before performing 747the request to either create or modify the permission set.

The third party 200 connects 750 the server to a second client computerover the computer network 720, where the second client computer isoperated by a consumer entity 210. The second client computer connects755 to the server over the computer network 720. The third party 200supplies 760 a consumer user interface over the computer network 720 tothe consumer entity 210. The consumer entity 210 receives 765 theconsumer user interface over the computer network 720. The consumer userinterface may include, for example, one or more web pages provided bythe server to the second client computer and interpreted using a webbrowser on the second client computer. Alternatively, the consumer userinterface may run on the server and be accessed by the second clientcomputer through a remote connection to the server, as facilitated bytechnologies such as NX (for X window systems) or virtual networkcomputing (VNC). The consumer user interface may be a GUI, for example,such as discussed in relation to FIG. 6. One or more consumer inputs maybe selected by the consumer entity 210 and sent 770 to the third party200 through the consumer user interface. The consumer user interfacereceives 775 in response to input from the consumer entity 210 at leastone consumer input representing a request to obtain the analysis result240. Additional input may be received from the consumer entity 210, suchas proof of identity (as described above) to validate the consumerentity's identity.

The third party 200 determines 780 from the permission set 260 that theconsumer entity 210 is permitted access to information computed from thedata set 240. The information computed from the data set 240 may includethe data set 240, and/or may include any other information derived fromthe data set 240, including the analysis result 300. The third party 200executes 785 the computer code 280 on at least one computer processor tocompute the analysis result 300 from the data set 240 after receivingthe at least one consumer input. Although not necessary, it may be moreefficient to execute 785 the computer code 280 after determining 780that the consumer entity 210 is permitted access to information computedfrom the data set 240, as depicted in FIG. 7. The computer code 280 maybe executed 785 on the at least one computer processor at the secondclient computer or at the server. The consumer user interface provides790 the analysis result 300 computed from the data set 240 to theconsumer entity 210. The consumer user interface may, for example, be aGUI as described in relation to FIG. 6, where the GUI enables theconsumer entity 210 to both send 770 one or more consumer inputs to thethird party 200 and receive 795 one or more analysis results from theunbiased consumer entity 300.

The flow chart depicted in FIG. 11 further develops one or more of theabove discussed embodiments related to FIGS. 3 and 7. At least oneembodiment is based on replacing block 305 in FIG. 3 or block 700 inFIG. 7 with FIG. 11. Referring to FIG. 11, the electronic device 100 isreceived 1100 by the third party 200. The third party 200 performs 1110the at least one measurement on the signal 120 derived from the output110 of the electronic device 100. The third party 200 derives 1120 thedata set 240 from the at least one measurement. In this way, the thirdparty 200 obtains the data set 240. The at least one measurement may beperformed using one or more test instruments, such as an oscilloscope, aspectrum analyzer, or a phase noise analyzer. The at least onemeasurement may measure any analog property of the signal 120, such asjitter, phase noise, or spectral density. The third party 200 mayreceive the electronic device 100, for example, from the supplier entity220.

FIG. 8 depicts an example of certain embodiments for one or morecomputer readable storage devices such as tangible non-transitorycomputer-readable storage devices containing programming instructionsthat when executed on one or more programmed processors carry out aprocess consistent with implementations of the present invention foranalyzing an analog property of a signal. A set of programminginstructions includes instructions 800 for computer code 280 compatibleto act upon a data set 240 provided by a third party 200 that computesan analysis result 300 from the data set 240, the data set 240 derivedfrom at least one measurement on a signal 120 derived from an output 110of an electronic device 100, where the data set 240 describes an analogproperty of the signal 120. Further instructions 810 read the data set240. Additional instructions 820 process at least one supplier inputfrom a supplier entity 220 to either create or modify a permission set260 to either permit or deny one or more consumer entities fromaccessing information computed from the data set 240. Informationcomputed from the data set 240 may include the data set 240. The atleast one supplier input may include, for example, one or moreselections submitted by the supplier entity 220 using a user interfaceprovided by the third party 200.

Further instructions 830 process at least one consumer input from aconsumer entity 210 to receive a request to provide the analysis result240. The at least one consumer input may include, for example, one ormore parameters selected by the consumer entity 210 using a userinterface provided by the third party 200, such as one of the GUIsdescribed above in relation to FIGS. 5 and 6. Additional instructions840 determine whether the consumer entity 210 is permitted access toinformation computed from the data set 240 based on the permission set260. Further instructions 850 execute the computer code 280 to computethe analysis result 300 from the data set 240 after processing 820 theat least one consumer input. Additional instructions 860 provide, by thethird party 200, the analysis result 300 to the consumer entity 210 ifthe consumer entity 210 is determined to have access to informationcomputed from the data set 240.

At least one embodiment includes the example embodiment for one or morecomputer-readable storage devices discussed above in relation to FIG. 8,and the instructions further comprise instructions 870 for processing asecond supplier input to verify the identity of the supplier entity 229,and instructions 880 for processing a second consumer input to verifythe identity of the consumer entity 210. An identity may be verified,for example, by receiving a username and password, and/or requiring aresponse to an email sent to the supplier entity 220 and/or consumerentity 210 email address. Digital certificates may also be used as partof a more stringent verification process.

An example apparatus 900 for implementing certain embodiments is shownin FIG. 9. At least one data storage device 910 connects to at least oneprocessing unit 920, where the at least one data storage device 910 hassufficient capacity to retain at least an analysis result 300, apermission set 260, and a data set 240; the data set 240 derived from atleast one measurement on a signal 120 derived from an output 110 of anelectronic device 100, where the data set 240 describes an analogproperty of the signal 120. A communications interface 930 communicateswith at least one of a supplier entity 220 and a consumer entity 210,and connects to the at least one processing unit 920. FIG. 9 illustratesthe communications interface communicating with at least one of thesupplier entity 220 and the consumer entity 210 over a computer network950, such as the Internet. For example, the apparatus 900 may be aserver, where the communications interface 930 may be a networkinterface card communicating with one or more client computers over acomputer network, where the one or more client computers are operated byat least one of the supplier entity 220 and the consumer entity 210.Alternatively, the apparatus 900 may be a computer with a communicationsinterface 930 that communicates with at least one of the supplier entity220 and the consumer entity 210.

At least one programming storage device 940 connects to the at least oneprocessing unit 920, and contains computer programming instructions asdepicted in FIG. 10 and discussed as follows. Instructions 1000 processat least one supplier input from the supplier entity 220 received overthe communications interface 930 to either create or modify thepermission set 260, where the permission set 260 controls access by oneor more consumer entities to information computed from the data set 240.Further instructions 1010 process at least one consumer input from theconsumer entity 210 received over the communications interface 930 toidentify a request to provide the analysis result 240. Furtherinstructions 1020 determine whether the consumer entity 210 is permittedaccess to information computed from the data set 240 based on thepermission set 260. Further instructions 1030 access the data set 240.Further instructions 1040 compute the analysis result 300 from the dataset 240 after processing the at least one consumer input. Furtherinstructions 1050 provide the analysis result 240 to the consumer entity210 over the communications interface 930 if the consumer entity 210 ispermitted access to information computed from the data set 240.

Finally, the apparatus 900 includes the least one processing unit 920operated by a third party 200 and connected to the communicationsinterface 930, the at least one data storage device 910, and the atleast one programming storage device 940, that executes the computerprogramming instructions (contained in the at least one programmingstorage device 940).

In certain embodiments, the analysis result 300 is derived from a firstquantity and a second quantity, where the first quantity is computedfrom the data set 240, and where the analysis result 300 includes atleast one of the following: (1) a magnitude comparison indicatorindicating a relative magnitude of at least one of: the first quantityto the second quantity; and the second quantity to the first quantity;(2) a margin comparison indicator indicating a relative margin betweenat least one of: the first quantity and the second quantity; and thesecond quantity and the first quantity; (3) a pass/fail indicatorindicating whether the first quantity is either larger or smaller thanthe second quantity; (4) a result based on a computation of amathematical expression comprising the first quantity and the secondquantity; and (5) a representation derived from the first quantity andthe second quantity. Certain applications may benefit by comparing thefirst quantity and the second quantity. For example, the second quantitymay represent a threshold for judging quality or performance used bymanufacturing during production testing to determine a pass or failstatus before committing a product for shipment. Comparing the firstquantity and the second quantity can be useful to determine a status ofpass or fail, or a measure of the amount consumed or margin remainingfor the first quantity with respect to the second quantity (or viceversa). In one or more embodiments, the first quantity is a first valueof jitter, and the second quantity is a second value of jitter. Incertain embodiments, the second value of jitter is derived from aspecification for jitter documented in a technical standard (asdescribed above). In other embodiments, the second value of jitter isderived from the consumer entity 210.

In certain illustrative embodiments, the at least one consumer inputcomprises a first selection representing at least one of the data set240 and the electronic device 100, and a second selection representingat least one of: a technical standard (as discussed above); aspecification documented in a technical standard (as discussed above);and a limit derived from an organization. In one or more embodiments,the analysis result 300 is derived from a first quantity and a secondquantity. The first quantity is a first value of jitter computed fromthe data set 240. The second quantity is a second value of jitterderived from at least one of the technical standard, the specification,and the limit. The analysis result 300 comprises at least one of thefollowing: (1) a magnitude comparison indicator indicating a relativemagnitude of at least one of: the first quantity to the second quantity;and the second quantity to the first quantity; (2) a margin comparisonindicator indicating a relative margin between at least one of: thefirst quantity and the second quantity; and the second quantity and thefirst quantity; (3) a pass/fail indicator indicating whether the firstquantity is either larger or smaller than the second quantity; (4) aresult based on a computation of a mathematical expression comprisingthe first quantity and the second quantity; and (5) a representationderived from the first quantity and the second quantity.

In one or more illustrative embodiments, the at least one consumer inputincludes at least one of the following: (1) an electronic deviceidentifier representing the electronic device 100; (2) a data setindicator representing the data set 240; (3) a temperature indicatorrepresenting a temperature condition present at least some of the timeduring the at least one measurement; (4) a voltage indicatorrepresenting a voltage condition applied at least some of the timeduring the at least one measurement; (5) a frequency indicatorrepresenting a frequency of oscillation for the signal 120; and (6) ananalysis result indicator representing a type of analysis result. In atleast one embodiment, the type of analysis result includes at least oneof the following: (a) a bathtub plot; (b) a Q-scale plot; (c) afrequency spectrum of a time-domain signal; (d) a time trend of data;(e) a histogram; (f) a measure of jitter; and (g) a measure of phasenoise.

In at least one illustrative embodiment, the data set 240 comprises atleast one of: jitter data, spectral density data, and phase noise data.The jitter data may include any type of jitter (e.g. period jitter,cycle to cycle jitter, N-cycle jitter, time-interval error, phasejitter) data, and/or any composition of jitter (e.g. random jitter,deterministic jitter, duty-cycle dependent jitter, data dependentjitter) data. The spectral density data may include, for example, powerspectral density data or energy spectral density data. The phase noisedata may be expressed in units of dBc/Hertz. The data set 240 may bederived from measurements obtained using one or more test instruments,such as a phase noise analyzer, a spectrum analyzer, or an oscilloscope.

In certain illustrative embodiments, the analysis result 300 comprises ameasure of jitter. The measure of jitter may include an indication ormeans of assessing the degree, extent, or quality of jitter derived fromthe signal 120. The jitter may be of any type and/or any composition.

In one or more illustrative embodiments, the signal 120 is a clocktiming signal (as described above). The clock timing signal may bederived from the clock timing source as described above.

Those of skilled in the art will recognize upon consideration of thepresent teachings that one or more of the example embodiments can beaccomplished using any form of storage or computer-readable medium,including but not limited to distribution media, intermediate storagemedia, execution memory of a computer, computer-readable storage device,and any other medium or device or non-transitory storage capable ofstoring for later reading by a computer program implementing one or moreembodiments. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that themethods described above can be implemented in any number of variations,including adding or deleting certain actions, without departing from thescope of one or more of the embodiments.

Thus, in accord with certain embodiments, an apparatus consistent withcertain implementations has at least one data storage device withsufficient capacity to retain at least an analysis result, a permissionset, and a data set, the data set derived from at least one measurementon a signal derived from an output of an electronic device, where thedata set describes an analog property of the signal; a communicationsinterface in communication with at least one of a supplier entity and aconsumer entity; and at least one programming storage device containingcomputer programming instructions. The computer programming instructionsinclude (1) instructions to process at least one supplier input from thesupplier entity received over the communications interface to eithercreate or modify the permission set, where the permission set controlsaccess by one or more consumer entities to information computed from thedata set; (2) instructions to process at least one consumer input fromthe consumer entity received over the communications interface toidentify a request to provide the analysis result, the at least oneconsumer input comprising: (a) a first selection representing at leastone of the data set and the electronic device; and (b) a secondselection representing at least one of: a technical standard; aspecification documented in a technical standard; and a limit derivedfrom an organization; (3) instructions to determine whether the consumerentity is permitted access to information computed from the data setbased on the permission set; (4) instructions to access the data set;(5) instructions to compute the analysis result from the data set afterprocessing the at least one consumer input, where the analysis result isderived from a first quantity and a second quantity, where the firstquantity is a first value of jitter computed from the data set, wherethe second quantity is a second value of jitter derived from at leastone of the technical standard, the specification, and the limit, andwhere the analysis result comprises at least one of the following: (A) amagnitude comparison indicator indicating a relative magnitude of atleast one of: the first quantity to the second quantity; and the secondquantity to the first quantity; (B) a margin comparison indicatorindicating a relative margin between at least one of: the first quantityand the second quantity; and the second quantity and the first quantity;(C) a pass/fail indicator indicating whether the first quantity iseither larger or smaller than the second quantity; (D) a result based ona computation of a mathematical expression comprising the first quantityand the second quantity; and (E) a representation derived from the firstquantity and the second quantity; and (6) instructions to provide theanalysis result to the consumer entity over the communications interfaceif the consumer entity is permitted access to information computed fromthe data set. At least one processing unit operated by a third party andconnected to the communications interface, the at least one data storagedevice, and the at least one programming storage device, executes thecomputer programming instructions.

In accord with certain embodiments, another apparatus consistent withcertain implementations comprises at least one data storage device withsufficient capacity to retain at least an analysis result, a permissionset, and a data set, the data set derived from at least one measurementon a signal derived from an output of an electronic device, where thedata set describes an analog property of the signal; a communicationsinterface in communication with at least one of a supplier entity and aconsumer entity; and at least one programming storage device containingcomputer programming instructions. The computer programming instructionsinclude (1) instructions to process at least one supplier input from thesupplier entity received over the communications interface to eithercreate or modify the permission set, where the permission set controlsaccess by one or more consumer entities to information computed from thedata set; (2) instructions to process at least one consumer input fromthe consumer entity received over the communications interface toidentify a request to provide the analysis result; (3) instructions todetermine whether the consumer entity is permitted access to informationcomputed from the data set based on the permission set; (4) instructionsto access the data set; (5) instructions to compute the analysis resultfrom the data set after processing the at least one consumer input; and(6) instructions to provide the analysis result to the consumer entityover the communications interface if the consumer entity is permittedaccess to information computed from the data set. At least oneprocessing unit operated by a third party and connected to thecommunications interface, the at least one data storage device, and theat least one programming storage device, executes the computerprogramming instructions.

In certain implementations, the at least one consumer input includes atleast one of the following: (i) an electronic device identifierrepresenting the electronic device; (ii) a data set indicatorrepresenting the data set; (iii) a temperature indicator representing atemperature condition present at least some of the time during the atleast one measurement; (iv) a voltage indicator representing a voltagecondition applied at least some of the time during the at least onemeasurement; (v) a frequency indicator representing a frequency ofoscillation for the signal; and (vi) an analysis result indicatorrepresenting a type of analysis result.

In certain implementations, the type of analysis result includes atleast one of the following: a bathtub plot; a Q-scale plot; a frequencyspectrum of a time-domain signal; a time trend of data; a histogram; ameasure of jitter; and a measure of phase noise.

In certain implementations the data set comprises at least one of:jitter data, spectral density data, and phase noise data.

In certain implementations, the analysis result comprises a measure ofjitter.

In certain implementations the signal comprises a clock timing signal.

In certain implementations, the analysis result is derived from a firstquantity and a second quantity; where the first quantity is computedfrom the data set; and where the analysis result includes at least oneof the following: (A) a magnitude comparison indicator indicating arelative magnitude of at least one of: the first quantity to the secondquantity; and the second quantity to the first quantity; (B) a margincomparison indicator indicating a relative margin between at least oneof: the first quantity and the second quantity; and the second quantityand the first quantity; (C) a pass/fail indicator indicating whether thefirst quantity is either larger or smaller than the second quantity; (D)a result based on a computation of a mathematical expression comprisingthe first quantity and the second quantity; and (E) a representationderived from the first quantity and the second quantity.

In certain implementations, the first quantity is a first value ofjitter, and the second quantity is a second value of jitter.

In certain implementations, the second value of jitter is derived from aspecification for jitter documented in a technical standard.

In certain implementations, the second value of jitter is derived fromthe consumer entity.

In accord with certain embodiments, a method consistent with certainimplementations comprises (1) obtaining, by a third party, a data set,the data set derived from at least one measurement on a signal derivedfrom an output of an electronic device, where the data set describes ananalog property of the signal; (2) maintaining, by the third party, apermission set based on data received from a supplier entity, where oneor more consumer entities having permission as determined by thepermission set are permitted access to information computed from thedata set; (3) maintaining, by the third party, computer code thatcomputes an analysis result from the data set; (4) receiving, by thethird party, at least one consumer input from a consumer entity, wherethe at least one consumer input represents a request to obtain theanalysis result; (5) determining, by the third party, from thepermission set that the consumer entity is permitted access toinformation computed from the data set; (6) executing the computer codeon at least one computer processor to compute the analysis result fromthe data set after receiving the at least one consumer input; and (7)providing, by the third party, the analysis result computed from thedata set to the consumer entity.

In certain implementations, the at least one consumer input includes atleast one of the following: an electronic device identifier representingthe electronic device; a data set indicator representing the data set; atemperature indicator representing a temperature condition present atleast some of the time during the at least one measurement; a voltageindicator representing a voltage condition applied at least some of thetime during the at least one measurement; a frequency indicatorrepresenting a frequency of oscillation for the signal; and an analysisresult indicator representing a type of analysis result.

In certain implementations, the type of analysis result includes atleast one of the following: a bathtub plot; a Q-scale plot; a frequencyspectrum of a time-domain signal; a time trend of data; a histogram; ameasure of jitter; and a measure of phase noise.

In certain implementations, the data set comprises at least one of:jitter data, spectral density data, and phase noise data.

In certain implementations, the analysis result comprises a measure ofjitter.

In certain implementations, the signal comprises a clock timing signal.

In certain implementations, the analysis result is derived from a firstquantity and a second quantity; where the first quantity is computedfrom the data set; and where the analysis result includes at least oneof the following: (A) a magnitude comparison indicator indicating arelative magnitude of at least one of: the first quantity to the secondquantity; and the second quantity to the first quantity; (B) a margincomparison indicator indicating a relative margin between at least oneof: the first quantity and the second quantity; and the second quantityand the first quantity; (C) a pass/fail indicator indicating whether thefirst quantity is either larger or smaller than the second quantity; (D)a result based on a computation of a mathematical expression comprisingthe first quantity and the second quantity; and (E) a representationderived from the first quantity and the second quantity.

In certain implementations, the first quantity is a first value ofjitter, and the second quantity is a second value of jitter.

In certain implementations, the second value of jitter is derived from aspecification for jitter documented in a technical standard.

In certain implementations, the second value of jitter is derived fromthe consumer entity.

In certain implementations, the at least one consumer input comprises afirst selection representing at least one of the data set and theelectronic device; and a second selection representing at least one of:a technical standard, a specification documented in a technicalstandard, and a limit derived from an organization.

In certain implementations, the analysis result is derived from a firstquantity and a second quantity, where the first quantity is computedfrom the data set; where the second quantity is derived from at leastone of the technical standard, the specification, and the limit; theanalysis result comprising at least one of the following: (A) amagnitude comparison indicator indicating a relative magnitude of atleast one of: the first quantity to the second quantity; and the secondquantity to the first quantity; (B) a margin comparison indicatorindicating a relative margin between at least one of: the first quantityand the second quantity; and the second quantity and the first quantity;(C) a pass/fail indicator indicating whether the first quantity iseither larger or smaller than the second quantity; (D) a result based ona computation of a mathematical expression comprising the first quantityand the second quantity; and (E) a representation derived from the firstquantity and the second quantity.

In certain implementations, the first quantity is a first value ofjitter and the second quantity is a second value of jitter.

In certain implementations, the second value of jitter is derived from aspecification for jitter documented in a technical standard.

In certain implementations, the second value of jitter is derived fromthe consumer entity.

In accord with certain embodiments, another method consistent withcertain implementations comprises (1) receiving, by a third party, anelectronic device; (2) performing, by the third party, at least onemeasurement on a signal derived from an output of the electronic device;and (3) deriving, by the third party, a data set from the at least onemeasurement, (4) obtaining, by the third party, the data set, the dataset derived from at least one measurement on the signal derived from theoutput of the electronic device, where the data set describes an analogproperty of the signal; (5) maintaining, by the third party, apermission set based on data received from a supplier entity, where oneor more consumer entities having permission as determined by thepermission set are permitted access to information computed from thedata set; (6) maintaining, by the third party, computer code thatcomputes an analysis result from the data set; (7) receiving, by thethird party, at least one consumer input from a consumer entity, wherethe at least one consumer input represents a request to obtain theanalysis result; (8) determining, by the third party, from thepermission set that the consumer entity is permitted access toinformation computed from the data set; (9) executing the computer codeon at least one computer processor to compute the analysis result fromthe data set after receiving the at least one consumer input; and (10)providing, by the third party, the analysis result computed from thedata set to the consumer entity.

In certain implementations, the analysis result comprises a measure ofjitter.

In certain implementations, the signal comprises a clock timing signal.

In accord with certain embodiments, another method consistent withcertain implementations comprises (1) obtaining, by a third party, adata set, the data set derived from at least one measurement on a signalderived from an output of an electronic device, where the data setdescribes an analog property of the signal; (2) maintaining, by thethird party, computer code that computes an analysis result from thedata set; (3) connecting, by the third party, a server to a first clientcomputer over a computer network, where the first client computer isoperated by a supplier entity; (4) supplying, by the third party, asupplier user interface over the computer network to the supplierentity; (5) maintaining, by a third party, a permission set; (6)receiving, by the supplier user interface, in response to input from thesupplier entity one or more supplier inputs representing a request toeither create or modify the permission set to either permit or deny oneor more consumer entities from accessing information computed from thedata set; (7) performing, by the third party, the request to eithercreate or modify the permission set; (8) connecting, by the third party,the server to a second client computer over the computer network; wherethe second client computer is operated by a consumer entity; (9)supplying, by the third party, a consumer user interface over thecomputer network to the consumer entity; (10) receiving, by the consumeruser interface, in response to input from the consumer entity at leastone consumer input representing a request to obtain the analysis result;(11) determining, by the third party, from the permission set that theconsumer entity is permitted access to information computed from thedata set; (12) executing, by the third party, the computer code on atleast one computer processor to compute the analysis result from thedata set after receiving the at least one consumer input; and (13)providing, by the consumer user interface, the analysis result computedfrom the data set to the consumer entity. In certain implementations,the analysis result comprises a measure of jitter. In certainimplementations, the signal comprises a clock timing signal. In certainimplementations, the method further comprises (14) receiving, by thethird party, the electronic device; (15) performing, by the third party,the at least one measurement on the signal derived from the output ofthe electronic device; and (16) deriving, by the third party, the dataset from the at least one measurement. In certain implementations, theanalysis result comprises a measure of jitter.

In accord with certain embodiments, one or more computer-readablestorage devices containing programming instructions that when executedon one or more programmed processors carry out a process consistent withcertain implementations, where the programming instructions comprise:(1) instructions for computer code compatible to act upon a data setprovided by a third party that computes an analysis result from the dataset, the data set derived from at least one measurement on a signalderived from an output of an electronic device, where the data setdescribes an analog property of the signal; (2) instructions for readingthe data set; (3) instructions for processing at least one supplierinput from a supplier entity to either create or modify a permission setto either permit or deny one or more consumer entities from accessinginformation computed from the data set; (4) instructions for processingat least one consumer input from a consumer entity to receive a requestto provide the analysis result; (5) instructions for determining whetherthe consumer entity is permitted access to information computed from thedata set based on the permission set; (6) instructions for executing thecomputer code to compute the analysis result from the data set afterprocessing the at least one consumer input; and (7) instructions forproviding by the third party the analysis result to the consumer entityif the consumer entity is determined to have access to informationcomputed from the data set. In certain implementations, the instructionsfurther comprise: (8) instructions for processing a second supplierinput to verify the identity of the supplier entity; and (9)instructions for processing a second consumer input to verify theidentity of the consumer entity.

In certain implementations, the at least one consumer input includes atleast one of the following: an electronic device identifier representingthe electronic device; a data set indicator representing the data set; atemperature indicator representing a temperature condition present atleast some of the time during the at least one measurement; a voltageindicator representing a voltage condition applied at least some of thetime during the at least one measurement; a frequency indicatorrepresenting a frequency of oscillation for the signal; and an analysisresult indicator representing a type of analysis result.

In certain implementations, the analysis result comprises a measure ofjitter.

In certain implementations, the signal comprises a clock timing signal.

In certain implementations, the analysis result is derived from a firstquantity and a second quantity; where the first quantity is computedfrom the data set; and where the analysis result includes at least oneof the following: (A) a magnitude comparison indicator indicating arelative magnitude of at least one of: the first quantity to the secondquantity; and the second quantity to the first quantity; (B) a margincomparison indicator indicating a relative margin between at least oneof: the first quantity and the second quantity; and the second quantityand the first quantity; (C) a pass/fail indicator indicating whether thefirst quantity is either larger or smaller than the second quantity; (D)a result based on a computation of a mathematical expression comprisingthe first quantity and the second quantity; and (E) a representationderived from the first quantity and the second quantity. In certainimplementations, the first quantity is a first value of jitter, and thesecond quantity is a second value of jitter. In certain implementations,the second value of jitter is derived from a specification for jitterdocumented in a technical standard.

In certain implementations, the at least one consumer input comprises: afirst selection representing at least one of the data set and theelectronic device; and a second selection representing at least one of:a technical standard, a specification documented in a technicalstandard, and a limit derived from an organization.

In certain implementations, the analysis result is derived from a firstquantity and a second quantity, where the first quantity is computedfrom the data set; where the second quantity is derived from at leastone of the technical standard, the specification, and the limit; theanalysis result comprising at least one of the following: (A) amagnitude comparison indicator indicating a relative magnitude of atleast one of: the first quantity to the second quantity; and the secondquantity to the first quantity; (B) a margin comparison indicatorindicating a relative margin between at least one of: the first quantityand the second quantity; and the second quantity and the first quantity;(C) a pass/fail indicator indicating whether the first quantity iseither larger or smaller than the second quantity; (D) a result based ona computation of a mathematical expression comprising the first quantityand the second quantity; and (E) a representation derived from the firstquantity and the second quantity.

In certain implementations, the first quantity is a first value ofjitter and the second quantity is a second value of jitter. In certainimplementations, the second value of jitter is derived from aspecification for jitter documented in a technical standard.

Those of skilled in the art will recognize upon consideration of thepresent teachings that the methods and associated data used to implementone or more embodiments can be implemented using disc storage or otherforms of storage, including but not limited to Read Only Memory (ROM)devices, Random Access Memory (RAM) devices, optical storage elements,magnetic storage elements, magneto-optical storage elements, flashmemory, core memory and/or other equivalent storage technologies.

Special-purpose hardware dedicated to performing the functions describedherein may also be implemented. Further implementations may includesoftware residing on a general-purpose computer, or a standalonecomputer that receives files or other data, and provides off-lineanalysis.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that one or moreembodiments may be implemented using hardware components such asspecial-purpose hardware and/or dedicated processors, which are withinthe scope and spirit of the above description and in the appendedclaims. Similarly, custom circuits, microprocessors, general purposecomputers, microprocessor based computers, microcontrollers, ASICs,and/or other dedicated hard wired logic may be used to constructalternative equivalent embodiments. Hence, the term “one or moreprogrammed processors” should be interpreted to mean a device that isprogrammed or designed as a dedicated hardware device to carry out aprogrammed function.

Since certain changes may be made in the foregoing disclosure withoutdeparting from the scope of the embodiments herein involved, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description and depictedin the accompanying drawings be construed in an illustrative and not ina limiting sense.

Certain embodiments may be implemented using a programmed processorexecuting programming instructions that in certain instances are broadlydescribed above in flow chart form that can be stored on any suitableelectronic or computer readable storage medium (such as, for example,disc storage, Read Only Memory (ROM) devices, Random Access Memory (RAM)devices, network memory devices, optical storage elements, magneticstorage elements, magneto-optical storage elements, flash memory, corememory and/or other equivalent volatile and non-volatile storagetechnologies). However, those skilled in the art will appreciate, uponconsideration of the present teaching, that the processes describedabove can be implemented in any number of variations and in manysuitable programming languages without departing from embodiments of thepresent invention. For example, the order of certain operations carriedout can often be varied, additional operations can be added oroperations can be deleted without departing from certain embodiments ofthe invention. Error trapping can be added and/or enhanced andvariations can be made in user interface and information presentationwithout departing from certain embodiments of the present invention.Such variations are contemplated and considered equivalent.

While the above description contains many specificities, these shouldnot be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as anexemplification of one or more preferred embodiments thereof. Many othervariations are possible. Accordingly, the scope should be determined notby the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and theirlegal equivalents. While certain illustrative embodiments have beendescribed, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications,permutations and variations will become apparent to those skilled in theart in light of the foregoing description.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: at least one datastorage device with sufficient capacity to retain at least an analysisresult, a permission set, and a data set, the data set derived from atleast one measurement on a signal derived from an output of anelectronic device, where the data set describes an analog property ofthe signal; a communications interface in communication with at leastone of a supplier entity and a consumer entity; at least one programmingstorage device containing computer programming instructions, thecomputer programming instructions including: instructions to process atleast one supplier input from the supplier entity received over thecommunications interface to either create or modify the permission set,where the permission set controls access by one or more consumerentities to information computed from the data set; instructions toprocess at least one consumer input from the consumer entity receivedover the communications interface to identify a request to provide theanalysis result, the at least one consumer input comprising: a firstselection representing at least one of the data set and the electronicdevice; and a second selection representing at least one of: a technicalstandard; a specification documented in a technical standard; and alimit derived from an organization; instructions to determine whetherthe consumer entity is permitted access to information computed from thedata set based on the permission set; instructions to access the dataset; instructions to compute the analysis result from the data set afterprocessing the at least one consumer input, where the analysis result isderived from a first quantity and a second quantity; where the firstquantity is a first value of jitter computed from the data set; wherethe second quantity is a second value of jitter derived from at leastone of the technical standard, the specification, and the limit; theanalysis result comprising at least one of the following: a magnitudecomparison indicator indicating a relative magnitude of at least one of: the first quantity to the second quantity; and  the second quantity tothe first quantity; a margin comparison indicator indicating a relativemargin between at least one of:  the first quantity and the secondquantity; and  the second quantity and the first quantity; a pass/failindicator indicating whether the first quantity is either larger orsmaller than the second quantity; a result based on a computation of amathematical expression comprising the first quantity and the secondquantity; and a representation derived from the first quantity and thesecond quantity; and instructions to provide the analysis result to theconsumer entity over the communications interface if the consumer entityis permitted access to information computed from the data set; and atleast one processing unit operated by a third party and connected to thecommunications interface, the at least one data storage device, and theat least one programming storage device, that executes the computerprogramming instructions.
 2. An apparatus, comprising: at least one datastorage device with sufficient capacity to retain at least an analysisresult, a permission set, and a data set, the data set derived from atleast one measurement on a signal derived from an output of anelectronic device, where the data set describes an analog property ofthe signal; a communications interface in communication with at leastone of a supplier entity and a consumer entity; at least one programmingstorage device containing computer programming instructions, thecomputer programming instructions including: instructions to process atleast one supplier input from the supplier entity received over thecommunications interface to either create or modify the permission set,where the permission set controls access by one or more consumerentities to information computed from the data set; instructions toprocess at least one consumer input from the consumer entity receivedover the communications interface to identify a request to provide theanalysis result; instructions to determine whether the consumer entityis permitted access to information computed from the data set based onthe permission set; instructions to access the data set; instructions tocompute the analysis result from the data set after processing the atleast one consumer input; and instructions to provide the analysisresult to the consumer entity over the communications interface if theconsumer entity is permitted access to information computed from thedata set; and at least one processing unit operated by a third party andconnected to the communications interface, the at least one data storagedevice, and the at least one programming storage device, that executesthe computer programming instructions.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2,where the at least one consumer input includes at least one of thefollowing: an electronic device identifier representing the electronicdevice; a data set indicator representing the data set; a temperatureindicator representing a temperature condition present at least some ofthe time during the at least one measurement; a voltage indicatorrepresenting a voltage condition applied at least some of the timeduring the at least one measurement; a frequency indicator representinga frequency of oscillation for the signal; and an analysis resultindicator representing a type of analysis result.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 3, where the type of analysis result includes at least one of thefollowing: a bathtub plot; a Q-scale plot; a frequency spectrum of atime-domain signal; a time trend of data; a histogram; a measure ofjitter; and a measure of phase noise.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherethe data set comprises at least one of: jitter data, spectral densitydata, and phase noise data.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2, where theanalysis result comprises a measure of jitter.
 7. The apparatus of claim6, where the signal comprises a clock timing signal.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 2, where the analysis result is derived from a first quantity anda second quantity; where the first quantity is computed from the dataset; and where the analysis result includes at least one of thefollowing: a magnitude comparison indicator indicating a relativemagnitude of at least one of: the first quantity to the second quantity;and the second quantity to the first quantity; a margin comparisonindicator indicating a relative margin between at least one of: thefirst quantity and the second quantity; and the second quantity and thefirst quantity; a pass/fail indicator indicating whether the firstquantity is either larger or smaller than the second quantity; a resultbased on a computation of a mathematical expression comprising the firstquantity and the second quantity; and a representation derived from thefirst quantity and the second quantity;
 9. The apparatus of claim 8,where the first quantity is a first value of jitter, and the secondquantity is a second value of jitter.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9,where the second value of jitter is derived from a specification forjitter documented in a technical standard.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9,where the second value of jitter is derived from the consumer entity.12. A method, comprising: obtaining, by a third party, a data set, thedata set derived from at least one measurement on a signal derived froman output of an electronic device, where the data set describes ananalog property of the signal; maintaining, by the third party, apermission set based on data received from a supplier entity, where oneor more consumer entities having permission as determined by thepermission set are permitted access to information computed from thedata set; maintaining, by the third party, computer code that computesan analysis result from the data set; receiving, by the third party, atleast one consumer input from a consumer entity, where the at least oneconsumer input represents a request to obtain the analysis result;determining, by the third party, from the permission set that theconsumer entity is permitted access to information computed from thedata set; executing the computer code on at least one computer processorto compute the analysis result from the data set after receiving the atleast one consumer input; and providing, by the third party, theanalysis result computed from the data set to the consumer entity. 13.The method of claim 12, where the at least one consumer input includesat least one of the following: an electronic device identifierrepresenting the electronic device; a data set indicator representingthe data set; a temperature indicator representing a temperaturecondition present at least some of the time during the at least onemeasurement; a voltage indicator representing a voltage conditionapplied at least some of the time during the at least one measurement; afrequency indicator representing a frequency of oscillation for thesignal; and an analysis result indicator representing a type of analysisresult.
 14. The method of claim 13, where the type of analysis resultincludes at least one of the following: a bathtub plot; a Q-scale plot;a frequency spectrum of a time-domain signal; a time trend of data; ahistogram; a measure of jitter; and a measure of phase noise.
 15. Themethod of claim 12, where the data set comprises at least one of: jitterdata, spectral density data, and phase noise data.
 16. The method ofclaim 12, where the analysis result comprises a measure of jitter. 17.The method of claim 16, where the signal comprises a clock timingsignal.
 18. The method of claim 12, where the analysis result is derivedfrom a first quantity and a second quantity; where the first quantity iscomputed from the data set; and where the analysis result includes atleast one of the following: a magnitude comparison indicator indicatinga relative magnitude of at least one of: the first quantity to thesecond quantity; and the second quantity to the first quantity; a margincomparison indicator indicating a relative margin between at least oneof: the first quantity and the second quantity; and the second quantityand the first quantity; a pass/fail indicator indicating whether thefirst quantity is either larger or smaller than the second quantity; aresult based on a computation of a mathematical expression comprisingthe first quantity and the second quantity; and a representation derivedfrom the first quantity and the second quantity;
 19. The method of claim18, where the first quantity is a first value of jitter, and the secondquantity is a second value of jitter.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherethe second value of jitter is derived from a specification for jitterdocumented in a technical standard.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherethe second value of jitter is derived from the consumer entity.
 22. Themethod of claim 12, where the at least one consumer input comprises: afirst selection representing at least one of the data set and theelectronic device; and a second selection representing at least one of:a technical standard; a specification documented in a technicalstandard; and a limit derived from an organization.
 23. The method ofclaim 22, where the analysis result is derived from a first quantity anda second quantity, where the first quantity is computed from the dataset; where the second quantity is derived from at least one of thetechnical standard, the specification, and the limit; the analysisresult comprising at least one of the following: a magnitude comparisonindicator indicating a relative magnitude of at least one of: the firstquantity to the second quantity; and the second quantity to the firstquantity; a margin comparison indicator indicating a relative marginbetween at least one of: the first quantity and the second quantity; andthe second quantity and the first quantity; a pass/fail indicatorindicating whether the first quantity is either larger or smaller thanthe second quantity; a result based on a computation of a mathematicalexpression comprising the first quantity and the second quantity; and arepresentation derived from the first quantity and the second quantity.24. The method of claim 23, where the first quantity is a first value ofjitter and the second quantity is a second value of jitter.
 25. Themethod of claim 24, where the second value of jitter is derived from aspecification for jitter documented in a technical standard.
 26. Themethod of claim 24, where the second value of jitter is derived from theconsumer entity.
 27. The method of claim 12, and the method furthercomprising: receiving, by the third party, the electronic device;performing, by the third party, the at least one measurement on thesignal derived from the output of the electronic device; and deriving,by the third party, the data set from the at least one measurement. 28.The method of claim 27, where the analysis result comprises a measure ofjitter.
 29. The method of claim 28, where the signal comprises a clocktiming signal.
 30. A method, comprising: obtaining, by a third party, adata set, the data set derived from at least one measurement on a signalderived from an output of an electronic device, where the data setdescribes an analog property of the signal; maintaining, by the thirdparty, computer code that computes an analysis result from the data set;connecting, by the third party, a server to a first client computer overa computer network, where the first client computer is operated by asupplier entity; supplying, by the third party, a supplier userinterface over the computer network to the supplier entity; maintaining,by a third party, a permission set; receiving, by the supplier userinterface, in response to input from the supplier entity one or moresupplier inputs representing a request to either create or modify thepermission set to either permit or deny one or more consumer entitiesfrom accessing information computed from the data set; performing, bythe third party, the request to either create or modify the permissionset; connecting, by the third party, the server to a second clientcomputer over the computer network; where the second client computer isoperated by a consumer entity; supplying, by the third party, a consumeruser interface over the computer network to the consumer entity;receiving, by the consumer user interface, in response to input from theconsumer entity at least one consumer input representing a request toobtain the analysis result; determining, by the third party, from thepermission set that the consumer entity is permitted access toinformation computed from the data set; executing, by the third party,the computer code on at least one computer processor to compute theanalysis result from the data set after receiving the at least oneconsumer input; and providing, by the consumer user interface, theanalysis result computed from the data set to the consumer entity. 31.The method of claim 30, where the analysis result comprises a measure ofjitter.
 32. The method of claim 31, where the signal comprises a clocktiming signal.
 33. The method of claim 30, and the method furthercomprising: receiving, by the third party, the electronic device;performing, by the third party, the at least one measurement on thesignal derived from the output of the electronic device; and deriving,by the third party, the data set from the at least one measurement. 34.The method of claim 33, where the analysis result comprises a measure ofjitter.
 35. One or more computer-readable storage devices containingprogramming instructions that when executed on one or more programmedprocessors carry out a process, where the programming instructionscomprise: instructions for computer code compatible to act upon a dataset provided by a third party that computes an analysis result from thedata set, the data set derived from at least one measurement on a signalderived from an output of an electronic device, where the data setdescribes an analog property of the signal; instructions for reading thedata set; instructions for processing at least one supplier input from asupplier entity to either create or modify a permission set to eitherpermit or deny one or more consumer entities from accessing informationcomputed from the data set; instructions for processing at least oneconsumer input from a consumer entity to receive a request to providethe analysis result; instructions for determining whether the consumerentity is permitted access to information computed from the data setbased on the permission set; instructions for executing the computercode to compute the analysis result from the data set after processingthe at least one consumer input; and instructions for providing by thethird party the analysis result to the consumer entity if the consumerentity is determined to have access to information computed from thedata set.
 36. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim35, and the instructions further comprise: instructions for processing asecond supplier input to verify the identity of the supplier entity; andinstructions for processing a second consumer input to verify theidentity of the consumer entity.
 37. The one or more computer-readablestorage devices of claim 35, where the at least one consumer inputincludes at least one of the following: an electronic device identifierrepresenting the electronic device; a data set indicator representingthe data set; a temperature indicator representing a temperaturecondition present at least some of the time during the at least onemeasurement; a voltage indicator representing a voltage conditionapplied at least some of the time during the at least one measurement; afrequency indicator representing a frequency of oscillation for thesignal; and an analysis result indicator representing a type of analysisresult.
 38. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim37, where the analysis result comprises a measure of jitter.
 39. The oneor more computer-readable storage devices of claim 38, where the signalcomprises a clock timing signal.
 40. The one or more computer-readablestorage devices of claim 35, where the analysis result is derived from afirst quantity and a second quantity; where the first quantity iscomputed from the data set; and where the analysis result includes atleast one of the following: a magnitude comparison indicator indicatinga relative magnitude of at least one of: the first quantity to thesecond quantity; and the second quantity to the first quantity; a margincomparison indicator indicating a relative margin between at least oneof: the first quantity and the second quantity; and the second quantityand the first quantity; a pass/fail indicator indicating whether thefirst quantity is either larger or smaller than the second quantity; aresult based on a computation of a mathematical expression comprisingthe first quantity and the second quantity; and a representation derivedfrom the first quantity and the second quantity;
 41. The one or morecomputer-readable storage devices of claim 40, where the first quantityis a first value of jitter, and the second quantity is a second value ofjitter.
 42. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim41, where the second value of jitter is derived from a specification forjitter documented in a technical standard.
 43. The one or morecomputer-readable storage devices of claim 35, where the at least oneconsumer input comprises: a first selection representing at least one ofthe data set and the electronic device; and a second selectionrepresenting at least one of: a technical standard; a specificationdocumented in a technical standard; and a limit derived from anorganization.
 44. The one or more computer-readable storage devices ofclaim 43, where the analysis result is derived from a first quantity anda second quantity, where the first quantity is computed from the dataset; where the second quantity is derived from at least one of thetechnical standard, the specification, and the limit; the analysisresult comprising at least one of the following: a magnitude comparisonindicator indicating a relative magnitude of at least one of: the firstquantity to the second quantity; and the second quantity to the firstquantity; a margin comparison indicator indicating a relative marginbetween at least one of: the first quantity and the second quantity; andthe second quantity and the first quantity; a pass/fail indicatorindicating whether the first quantity is either larger or smaller thanthe second quantity; a result based on a computation of a mathematicalexpression comprising the first quantity and the second quantity; and arepresentation derived from the first quantity and the second quantity.45. The one or more computer-readable storage devices of claim 44, wherethe first quantity is a first value of jitter and the second quantity isa second value of jitter.
 46. The one or more computer-readable storagedevices of claim 45, where the second value of jitter is derived from aspecification for jitter documented in a technical standard.